Improved coffin



niteh tatr getraut @fitte J. I). NIETSCKE, 0F' SGMERSET, OlIl-O. Letters Patient No. 69,238, dated September 24, 1867.

IMPROVED GOFFIN.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY OONOERN:

Be it known that I, J. D. NIETSCKE, of Somerset, in the county ot Perry, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coliins; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which-- Figure I is a. top view of my invention. r

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two gures.

In this invention anew method of making the colin air-tight is employed, and anew apparatus is introduced for filling the colin with gas or exhausting the atmospheric air within it.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to ma-keand use the same, I will proceed to describe it in detail. i

In the drawings, A A A represent the pieces composing the walls ot' my improved Collin. These pieces 'are bevellcdand fitted closely to each other at all the joints except those represented by 'a a, where they are so iitted that the outer and inner edges of the pieces touch each other, leaving averticalv cavity in the centre, which is to be filled with wax, or other suitable material, in order to render the joint airtight. Similar material is to.

be placed along all the other joints, rendering them perfectly air-tight, and strips of wood B B, fitted to the position, are nailed tightly/ down upon the wax, confining it firmly in its place. Around the upper edges of the coiiin strips of wood, .C C, are first attached to the walls of the eofiin, having grooves on their upper side,-

or being bevelled toward the cotlin walls, so as to form a groove, c c, after being nailed to the Collin. This groove'is to be filled full of wax, or other suitable composition, for the same purpose indicated above. These' strips strengthen the eoHin, and form supports for the cover, bottoni, &c. The lining of the cotlin may be attached to them, and thc spaces between them may be padded, it' desired. The coiiiu being thus constructed, the lid-0r cover D is screwed down tightly upon it. On the under side of the cover is a little ridge or elevation, (Z, which, when the'lid is in place, fits into the groovcee and presses the wax out so as to rendeuthcjoint perfectly tight. A glass plate, E, is fixed in the lid over the place where the face of the decased will couorin such a manner as to be removable from above. For this purpose the glass plate may be inserted in a. frame, c, fitted tightly to ,the lid in the manner above described, or the frame may have a groove along its upper edge, which can be lled with wax, and a sniall cover, l", ni'uy be provided to fit tightly down upon it and be secured in thatV position. The under side of the plate is to have a thin film of collodiou applied to it in order t0 preserve its transparency. In the coin-lid, near thc fectof the occupant, is thc apparatus for filling the coliu with-gas. It consists of an outer tube, G, running up'through the lid, and fastened by two washers or collars, l 7,1', onc above and one below the lid, which screw upon the tube, screw-threads being cut around its upper outer surface for that pur.- pose, and an inner tnbe, I, which tits tightly and screws up and down inv the outer tube. v A hole, le', is drilled through the lower wall ol' the outer tube, and another, through thciuner tube. The bottom ofthe outer tube being closed up, it follows that when the holes le Z are brought in connection a passage is established from the` interior of 'the coin to the air outsideof it, by which, by means otl a pump or condenser, the air in the eoiiuymay be exhausted, or hydrogen o'r other gas may be pumped into it to the exclusion of atmospheric air. When the coiiin is filled in this manner thc` inner tube may be turned so as to disconnect thc apertures c l; and the gases will thus b e eli'cctually confined within the coffin. For convenience in turning the inner tube, and for attaching the air-pump or condenser, notches m nz. are provided iu the upper extremity of the inner tube. This apparatus is to be placed in the coffin-lid, the upper collar brought to a level with the upper, end' of the outer tube, and the lower collar h screwed irnily u'p against the'lid. The inner tube is then to be screwed up or down till the holes c Z are brought into connection. The coffin is then to be filled with'gas in the manner described, and the apertures c Z disconnected. The inner tube is then to be screwed down to a level with the outelr tube, and the cap or button O is tobe inserted iu it, as shown in fig. 2,' and made water and air-tight by means of wax or other similar material. The coiiin is then ready for transportation and for use. Bodies may be preserved in this manner,l by using the proper gases, for auiindefinit-e period, remaining -entirelyuuchanged in appearance. They may be transported long distances, then taken out, moved, readjusted in position, photographed, or dressed, and restored again to their narrow tenement with the greatest ease, and without discomfort to those employed in the work. In all cases of death from pntrid or infectious diseases this coin will prove invaluable, as by means of it the body is completely isolated from the surrounding air, and no infection can be communicated from it. If in any case it be not desirable to move the body thevglass plate E may be lifted and f a loe'k of hair taken or a bouquet placed in the coffin. The whole apparatus is thus peculiarly adapted to moet all the wants that have been experieneedn regard to coins, and is besides convenient to handle, and far cheaper than any other coin which will at all effect the preservation of the body for any lengthof time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- The apparatus for lilling the coiiin with gas, consisting of the'tube G, having the perforation lc, in eoinbination with the tube I, having the perforation Z, and with the collars h L and the cap O, substantially as and for.

the purpose specified.

J. D. NIETSGKE, M. D.

Witnesses:

' A. S. DEcoT,

HENRY J. GAIN. 

